Posted!

Join the Conversation

Comments

Welcome to our new and improved comments, which are for subscribers only.
This is a test to see whether we can improve the experience for you.
You do not need a Facebook profile to participate.

You will need to register before adding a comment.
Typed comments will be lost if you are not logged in.

Please be polite.
It's OK to disagree with someone's ideas, but personal attacks, insults, threats, hate speech, advocating violence and other violations can result in a ban.
If you see comments in violation of our community guidelines, please report them.

University of Louisville's interim president target of 'hostile' comments amid scandal

University of Louisville Interim President Greg Postel approaches a podium just before he announced that athletic director Tom Jurich and men’s basketball coach Rick Pitino have been placed on administrative leave from the school.
Sep. 27, 2017(Photo: Sam Upshaw Jr./CJ)Buy Photo

University of Louisville police provided additional security for interim President Greg Postel at his home and office amid his shuffling of the school's athletic department.

The extra security was "a precautionary measure and in response to possible hostile reactions to recent news events," said John Drees, a university spokesman.

Last month, Postel suspended men's basketball coach Rick Pitino, athletic director Tom Jurich, and men's basketball player Brian Bowen after the FBI alleged that coaches with the program participated in a scheme to pay recruits' families.

Drees said he didn't know of any specific threats but added that there had been "plenty of hostile phone calls and comments on message boards." He said the security has since stopped.

In suspending Pitino and Jurich, Postel called the FBI allegations "a serious concern that goes to the heart of our athletic department and the university." Postel added that "any violations will not be tolerated."

The University of Louisville Athletic Association, which voted last week to proceed with Pitino's termination, will meet next Monday to decide whether to fire the Hall of Fame coach. Pitino's lawyer, Steve Pence, has previously predicted a "bare-knuckle fight" over Pitino's dismissal and said that "the facts will inevitably exonerate him."

Jurich's lawyer, Allison Stemler, also denied an allegation from Postel that he negotiated the recent $160 million contract extension with Adidas without “appropriate consultation with me” or the athletic board.

She said Jurich “had no knowledge of, and would not have tolerated, the alleged criminal conduct.”